The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on the Congress party after its leader Salman Khurshid suggested that the violent protests witnessed in Bangladesh could potentially occur in India. Khurshid’s remarks came in the wake of the recent unrest in Bangladesh, which saw widespread protests against quotas, ultimately leading to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation and subsequent asylum-seeking in India.
Reacting to Khurshid’s statement, the BJP asserted that this was yet another example of the Congress Party prioritizing ‘Rajneeti’ (politics) over ‘Rashtraneet’ (national interests). Meanwhile, Khurshid, when questioned about his statement, responded cryptically, stating, “I say whatever I say in public, never in private.”
Khurshid’s controversial remarks were made during the launch of ‘Shikwa-e-Hind: The Political Future of Indian Muslims,’ a book by academician Mujibur Rehman. The former minister, while acknowledging the apparent normalcy in India, cautioned that beneath the surface, similar unrest could erupt. He specifically mentioned Kashmir and the recent victory of the BJP, implying that deeper issues remain unresolved. He further added that another protest akin to the Shaheen Bagh agitation, which he deemed a failure, is unlikely in the current climate.
The BJP’s response was swift and fierce. Shehzad Poonawalla, a BJP spokesperson, accused Congress of hypocrisy, stating that while the party claims to stand with the Indian government on the Bangladesh situation, leaders like Khurshid are actively inciting unrest. He further criticized Khurshid’s remarks as an attempt to exploit the situation for political gain.
Sambit Patra, a BJP leader and MP, echoed these sentiments, pointing out the presence of other Congress leaders, including Shashi Tharoor, at the book launch who seemingly endorsed Khurshid’s statement. Patra also took aim at Rahul Gandhi’s past actions, alleging that his overseas meetings were part of a larger scheme to undermine India.
The recent events in Bangladesh have brought the country to a boiling point. On Monday, amidst the growing student protests, Hasina, who had been in power since 2009, announced her resignation. The 76-year-old Prime Minister, who has sought asylum in the UK, is unlikely to return to politics, according to her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy. Nobel laureate and microfinance pioneer Muhammad Yunus has been tasked with leading an interim government in Bangladesh.
